zimmerman



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. W. ZIMMERMAN.

REFRIGERATOR CAR.

No. 246,439. Patented Aug. 30,1881.

urn T072.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. W. ZIMMERMAN. REFRIGERATOR GAR.

Patented Aug. 30 E 15 (No Model.)

N. PETERS. Pholo'lilhographur. Washingla WITNESSES.

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

ARNOLD W. ZIMMERMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

REFRIGERATOR-OAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,439, dated August 30, 1881.

Application filed May 3, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARNOLD W. ZIMMER- MAN, of the city of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Befrigerator-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to produce a refrigerator-car of superior adaptability for its purpose, but in which the ice-receptacle shall occupy but comparatively little space, and alsoin some details of construction, all as will hereinafter be more specifically set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of one end of a car embodyingmyimprovements,thehatchbeingremoved and the interior of the ice-receptacle thereby brought to view; Fig. 2, an elevation of the ice-receptacle, the surrounding portions of-the car being mostly shown in section Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section of one end of the car, including a cross-section of the ice-receptacle, 85c. and Fig. 4, a detail view, in vertical section and on an enlarged scale, of the valve by means of which water is discharged from the receptacle.

In the said drawings, the portions marked A represent the walls of the car; B, the floor thereto; 0, the roof thereof; D, a hatch forming part of said roof when in place, but leaving an opening for the admission of ice into the receptacle when removed; E, the ice-receptacle; F, the upper tier of pipes therein; Gr, the other pipes therein; H, avalve thereto; I, a pipe extending upwardlyfrom said valve; J, a discharge-pipe for the receptacle with which said valve communicates; K, a trough underneath theice-receptacle, which serves to catch and convey away the water formed by condensation on the outside of said receptacle; L, a pipe leading from said trough through the bottom of the car, by which the water collected in said trough is conveyed away; and M, a partition rising from a point below the pipes F on the ice-receptacle to a point near the ceiling of the car.

The walls A, floor B, and roof 0 are all constructed practically air-tight by means of closely-fitted joints between the boarding and interposed layers of paper and felting, as is indicated in the drawings.

The hatches D are constructed in much the same manner as the other portions of the roof, so far as material and arrangement are concerned, but are preferably constructed in two parts, so as to be more easily handled.

The ice-receptacleE is preferably constructed of heavy galvanized iron, and is suspended from the roof by being attached thereto, as shown. A space is left between it and the wall of the car for the admission of air, which preferably increases in size from the lower edge of the top of the upper tier of pipes, as shown. It is provided with a number ofopenended pipes, F G, which pass through it and communicate with this space and the surrounding air, and which preferably incline slightly downward toward the center of the car, as shown. The top pipes, F, preferably flare somewhat as they approach the side of the receptacle nearest the wall of the car, and are intended to conduct the warmer air from near the top of the car through the receptacle to the small space between said receptacle and the wall. The other pipes, G, which have their discharging ends toward the center of the car and are preferably flaring in the same direction, as shown, are intended to conduct the air back into the central portion of the car. The flaring form and downward inclination of these pipes accelerate the movement of the air through them, and thus promote the circulation of the same. The formation of the space between the ice-receptacle and the wall of the car, it being larger near the top where the greatest quantity of air should be under this arrangement, is also of advantage in promoting the circulation.

It being understood, of course, that warm air ascends and cold air descends, it will be readily seen 'that the arrangement of pipes described is well calculated to keep up a continual circulation through the car, and that the low temperature required is produced and maintained by the constant passing and repassing of the air through the pipes F G, which are intended to be surrounded by ice or ice-cold water at all times when the car is in use. The partition M aids this arrangement by forming a more pronounced division-line between the oppositely-moving currents of air than would otherwise exist.

The valve H consists of two hollow shells,

preferably in the form of inverted cups, the inner one having a suitable base, and each having an orifice in the top and side for the passage of the water, one resting upon the outside of the other. When the side orifices are turned so as to be together they, of course, form a passage-way to the inside of the valve and to the discharge-pipe attached thereto, through which any water in the receptacle E will flow. When turned so as to be apart from each other, however, the valt'e is closed, and the water is retained in the receptacle.

The pipe I extends from the valve up to a pointjust beneath the hatchway, and is kept in place by a projecting lug, 1, containing a bearing therefor. It serves both as a handle to manipulate the valve and as an overflowpipe, one or more orifices, i, being provided as an inlet thereto, which prevent the water formed by the melting of the ice or otherwise collected in the receptacle E from rising above the point where they are located.

The pipeJis simplyadischarge-pipe,through which either the overflowing water or that discharged through the valve is permitted to flow through the bottom of the car to the ground. It is preferably provided with a trap upon its bottom end. (Not shown.)

The trough Kis a little larger than the bottom of the ice-receptacle, and is therefore adapted to catch all the water which is formed by condensation on the outside of said. receptacle, as it runs down and drops from the sides thereof.

The pipe L is for the purpose of carrying 011' the water formed by condensation from the trough K, and may belocated at any point along said trough; but I prefer to have it surround the pipe J, as shown, as there is then but one orifice necessary through the trough and the floor of the car.

The partition M forms a division for the oppositely-moving currents of air, and by compellin g the warmer current to be drawn from close to the top of the car compels a more active circulation than would otherwise take place.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a refrigerator-car, an ice-receptacle located near to but not in contact with the wall ot'said car, and provided with pipes which pass through said receptacle either horizontally or slightly inclined, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In the ice-receptacle of a refrigerator-car, airpipes passing through the same, in which the diameter increases as they approach the discharging end, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a refrigerator-car, an ice-receptacle located close to the wall of said car, as shown, which is inclined away from the wall from its bottom to near its top, so as to increase the size of the space between said receptacle and said wall at the upper part, and which has pipes passing through it which open at one end into said space, and at the other toward the center of the car, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the ice-receptacle, of a refrigerator-car having two series of pipes passing through the same, one series of which is intended to carry the air in one direction, and the other series ofwhich is intended to carry it in the otherdirection, of a partition, M, which serves to divide the opposite] y-inovin g currents of air, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the ice-receptacle E, of the valve II, constructed and operating substantially as shown and specified.

6. The combinati0n,in arefrigerator, with the "alve H, of the pipe I, which serves both as a handle to manipulate the valve and as an overflow-pipe, substantially as shown and set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 27th day of April, A. D. 1881.

ARNOLD W. ZliillMEIUIAN. [L. s. \Vitnesses: O. BRADFORD,

N. E. G. WHITNEY. 

